Open Thread with a Topic
Or you can talk about something else. We used to do this in the past and sometimes it was very successful. As a subscriber. I am posting part of a Paul Krugman commentary. It may interest you. You can always use your own topic. as a start of a discussion too.
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Part of a commentary:
“On Tuesday Donald Trump went on CNBC to explain why the European Union is facing a tariff of “only” 15 percent. But what he said was simply delusional — and the delusion should be even more concerning than the tariffs.
The Europeans, Trump asserted, had agreed to cough up $600 billion, which he described as a “gift,” not a loan. And he emphasized that this is “$600 billion to invest in anything I want. Anything. I can do anything I want with it.”
So Trump apparently believes that the European Union has agreed to provide him with a personal $600 billion slush fund.
In fact, as I pointed out after the “deal” was announced, the EU agreed to no such thing. In fact, it literally couldn’t have made such an agreement. European nations aren’t command economies in which government can tell the private sector where to invest, and in any case the European Commission, which negotiated with Trump, can’t tell the governments of member states what to do.”
“The Emperor’s New Trade Deal” Paul Krugman, “Tariffs are bad. A deluded president is worse.”
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I read the article. Others may be able to gain access to the article. The link is there. I do not believe Tr__p is serious in what he says. He claims they will give him $600 billion. What I really believe he is saying? If you give me this, life gets easier. It is a Tr__p suggestion.
The deeper issue is, this is really strange coming from a U.S. president. His strong-arming technique is very crude for a president.
Yes, of course this is bullshit on stilts. Trump may or may not know that it’s silly. What he knows is that it will control the media cycle as everyone has to discuss President Chauncey Gardiner’s latest bloviation.
“In November 2024, Intel and the US Department of Commerce announced an agreement to award Intel $7.86 billion in direct funding for our commercial semiconductor manufacturing projects under the US CHIPS and Science Act. Intel received $1.1 billion of that award in the fourth quarter of 2024 and $1.1 billion in January 2025.” Corporate Responsibility Report – Intel
Two months later: “Will Intel survive to 2030?” “Will Intel survive to 2030?”
What a boondoggle! Obviously, neither party has a monopoly on massive waste, fraud, and malfeasance.
John:
I can not access the second link. I believe this link may suffice: Intel Reveals Groundbreaking Financial Roadmap Through 2030 (NASDAQ:INTC) | Seeking Alpha
TSMC delays Arizona plant because of US skilled worker shortage? – Angry Bear TSMC is building its second building in Casa Grande, AZ.
John:
I believe it is difficult for the average person to understand exactly what is involved in something like this, hence a committee of assorted disciplines. Even then, we found one person worked for the company we were studying.
Bill–Here’s another link for you.
“When announced in 2022, the plant was slated to open this year. Then, over a year ago, Intel announced challenges that delayed the construction, which pushed the project to 2027. Now, Intel says parts of the project won’t be completed until 2030 and 2031. This means, by the time it opens — if the dates stand — the project has been delayed by five to six years from the initial estimated completion date.” Intel delays Ohio’s chip plant to 2030, 2031
Granted, the chip making process is extraordinarily complex and requires excellent management and substantial experience. The quality of Intel’s management has been in doubt for probably a decade now. And while Intel’s foundry experience is limited its new products depends heavily on it.
“Intel took on this challenge to close the performance gap with TSMC, but its aggressive timeline for a rollout of unproven systems set it up for failure, said the two people briefed on the company’s test data. One likened the effort to a “Hail Mary” football pass.” https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/devices/intels-manufacturing-challenges-18a-process-faces-quality-hurdles-for-panther-lake-chips/123137314
The Biden administration had to have known all of this yet chose to lavish $billion on a long shot. And the chickens started coming home to roost within weeks after his administration left office…a boondoggle.
Oh look! Trump is lying again, better change the subject …
Yesterday the Tucson city council unanimously voted no on an Amazon data center.
Tucson City Council pulls plug on Amazon’s Project Blue
Amazon had been able to get both the city and county to agree to non disclosure agreements on the project. When city residents finally learned more, they turned out in large numbers to protest the deal.
Jim:
I sat on a Planning and Zoning Commission for a number of years in Michigan. Our township was desirable because we were north of Ann Arbor. A good area with forests, wetlands, and roadways in and out of town.
I believe the killer here was the secrecy by the city and the county. Neither are really equipped to deal with corporations such as Amazon. Ther “probably” would have been errors made in which case the city and county would get the blame and Amazon would have done the “Oh well, this is your contract with us!” Suing them would have cost $thousands.
The people who serve on the city organizations are not that good. We had attorneys and engineers backing us up. The Board Chair was astute and I was plant and corporate management with multiple degrees They are going against lawyers, money, and a lack resource. Around here in Maricopa, the level of knowledge is not that great.
That the citizens rejected the plan is not surprising. It should have been open to them in the beginning even if it was not an announced public meeting. The information has to be available an open to the public and newspapers. Then they can decide, or not decide, or not be aware by not following. Properly, the local government should announce it in the paper to be discussed ay various meetings. The the public decides.
You do know TSMC is building a second massive, high water usage facility in Casa Grande, yes?
I believe Intel is in Chandler and will also build in Casa Grande
Jim:
Did you have more you wish to discuss on this topic or otherwise?
If you repeat the lies enough times, with a largely captive fourth estate and an opposition party which is afraid of its own shadow, you end up with Nobel Prize winners who come across as cranks. It has taken Trump 6 months to produce the dystopian country he claimed he was going to make great again. Every country in the world is now just waiting for the opportunity to stick it to the United States, and we are systematically destroying our science and tech advantages, while reducing much of our population to a Hobbesian existence.
Terry:
In 2016, we put Tr__p in office to avoid a woman presidency. In 2020, we put Biden in office to avoid Tr__p. In 2024, we put Tr__p back in office to avoid a woman of color as the president. At no time did Tr__p get 50% of the vote.
People voted for others, the family dog, cartoon characters, or did not vote in 2016 and 2024. It is painfully obvious we blew ourselves up.
Yes, if they repeat the lies about Biden, Harris, and Clinton, it ids easy enough to convince people to vote for others, make-believe candidates, or not vote. All being done in protest.
People believe they are teaching lessons when in reality they are hurting themselves. By the time Tr__mp leaves office, we will have reverse the nation’s progress by 20 years.